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The  Woman’s  National 
Foreign  Missionary  Jubilee 

BY  MRS.  J.  H.  KNOWLES 

It  is  a wonderful  story.  From  the  far 
Judean  hills  we  hear  in  it  the  echo  of  the 
Master's  voice,  "()  woman,  threat  is  thy  faith; 
be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt." 

In  1S34  the  Rev.  David  ,\beel,  a missionary 
returned  from  China,  first  suggested  in  the 
home  of  Mrs.  T.  C.  Doremus,  of  New  York, 
that  Christian  women  should  unite  to  help  the 
depressed  women  of  the  Orient.  Mrs.  Dore- 
mus's  heart  caught  fire  at  once  and  a few 
eager  spirits  joined  her  in  the  attempt.  But 
after  the  fashion  then  prevalent  in  China  of 
destroying  girl  infants,  this  new-born  creature 
was  put  to  death  by  the  "Parent”  society,  the 
American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  because 
"the  women  were  stepping  outside  of  their 
legitimate  province.”  Nevertheless  several  in- 
dependent societies  of  women  were  engaged  in 
this  purpose,  and  twenty-six  years  later  in 
Mrs.  Doremus's  home,  in  ISGO.  the  Woman's 
Union  Missionary  Society  was  organized,  in- 
cluding all  denominations.  Hence  this  year  of 
our  Lord  1910  is  the  jubilee  year  for  all 
woman’s  foreign  missionary  societies.  The 
work  and  opportunity  assumed  such  magnitude 
that  independent  societies  in  the  denominations 
were  formed  later,  that  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  being  organized  in  Boston  in 
1869.  Since  their  organization  the  Methodist 
women  have  sent  over  ten  million  dollars  to  the 
foreign  field.  The  light  has  risen  in  America 
as  well  as  in  China  upon  "women’s  legitimate 
province.”  Following  the  ecumenical  confer- 
ence of  missions  held  in  Carnegie  Hall,  New 
I'ork.  in  1900,  came  the  central  committee  on 
united  stud.v.  an  advance  movement  that  has 
done  more,  perhaps,  to  create  intelligent  interest 
in  foreign  missions  than  any  other  human 
agency.  It  is  from  this  central  committee,  of 


which  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Peabody  is  chairman, 
that  the  call  came  early  in  the  summer  to  the 
women  of  all  the  chiii’ches  from  the  Atlantic 


MRS.  HELEN  BARRETT  MONTGOMERY 

to  the  Pacific  to  unite  in  a jubilee  of  meetings, 
beginning  October,  1910,  closing  at  floodtide  in 
Xew  York  in  March,  1911.  Some  have  said, 
“Can  we  possibly  do  this  great  thing  in  so 
short  a time?”  But  having  been  faithful 
through  the  years  in  that  which  is  least,  they 
were  fully  equal  to  the  great  thing  when  it 
arrived.  They  did  not  need  the  months  of 
preparation  required  by  the  Laymen’s  INIove- 
ment.  The  completeness  of  the  women’s  or- 


sanization  provided  the  ouly  medium  needed. 
The  success  of  this  jubilee  proves  that  we 
can  work  together — Episcopalians,  Methodists, 
Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Lutherans,  Congrega- 
tionalists,  Christians — every  creed  forgetting 
its  differences  and  massing  forces  at  the  call  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  meet  the  need  of  His  world. 
We  must  work  together  to  prove  our  essential 
unity  in  Christ,  to  show  to  the  uninterested 
women  the  power  of  our  cause,  which  is 
greater  than  creed,  and  to  lift  up  all  together 
beaten  and  bruised  womanhood  and  childhood 
of  nonchristian  lands.  And  this  is  the  story 
of  the  triumphant  march  from  sea  to  sea  to 
the  music  of  the  herald  angel,  “Behold,  I 
bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which 
shall  be  to  all  people.” 

THE  METHOD 

The  essential  features  of  the  plan  thus  far 
have  been  a strong  local  committee  of  women 
in  each  place  where  a meeting  is  to  be  held  ; 
subcommittees  to  attend  to  every  detail  of 
preparation,  especial  emphasis  put  upon  the 
forming  of  prayer  circles,  with  subjects  for 
prayer  outlined,  recognizing  that  “everything 
vital  in  the  missionary  enterprise  hinges  upon 
prayer”;  enlisting  the  coiiperation  of  the  pul- 
pit, press  and  society  leaders ; a luncheon, 
where  the  feast  of  food  is  simple  and  the  flow 
of  soul  strong  and  impelling;  preliminary 
gatherings  in  private  houses ; denominational 
rallies  and  a great  evening  mass  meeting: 
everything  thrilling  with  the  electric  current  of 
thought  and  action  of  this  progressive  age. 

THE  DYNAMO 

The  moving  force  of  this  extraodinary  move- 
ment, humanly  speaking,  is  Mrs.  Helen  Barrett 
Montgomery,  and  the  missionaries  and  other 
speakers  traveling  from  place  to  place  with 
her.  Mrs.  Montgomery  is  the  daughter  of  a 
Baptist  minister,  a graduate  of  Wellesley  Col- 
lege, author  of  Western  \Vomen  in  Eastern 
Lands  and  other  books,  a member  of  the  board 
of  education  in  Rochester,  her  city  of  residence. 


a brilliant  lecturer  on  topics  of  social  reform, 
a strong  spiritual  teacher  and  leader,  a de- 
voted lover  and  servant  of  the  kingdom  of 
peace  and  righteousness. 

EESULTS  THUS  FAR 

The  first  meeting,  in  Oakland,  Cal.,  placed 
the  seal  of  success  upon  the  enterprise.  In 
San  Francisco  and  Portland  there  were 
crowded  houses,  high  enthusiasm  and  generous 
pledges  of  inonej'. 

In  Seattle  two  thousand  attended  the  even- 
ing meeting  and  fifteen  hundred  the  luncheon 
and  the  spiritual  impression  dominated  all. 

Denver,  Omaha,  Kansas  Citj'  and  Saint 
Louis  responded  hej-ond  all  expectation.  In 
Denver  the  local  committee  included  the  wife 
of  the  Governor,  the  sister  of  Bishop  Brent,  of 
the  Philippines,  the  wife  of  a Methodist  and 
the  daughter  of  an  Episcopal  Bishop,  a member 
of  the  hoard  of  education,  officers  of  the 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  and 
Young  AVomen’s  Christian  Association,  a vice- 
president  of  the  AA’oman's  Club  and  the  ex- 
president of  the  National  Federation.  This 
shows  the  representative  character  of  the  com- 
mittees enlisted.  The  November  itinerary  in- 
cluded Saint  I’aul,  Minneapolis.  Milwaukee, 
Chicago,  Indianapolis,  Cincinnati,  Detroit  and 
Chicago.  The  olTerings  in  money  thus  far  re- 
ported amount  to  .$400,000,  divided  among  the 
various  boards,  according  to  the  wish  of  the 
donors.  The  meeting  in  Detroit  seems  to  have 
stirred  the  city  to  its  heart.  Cleveland  had 
2.2.40  at  luncheon.  AVashington,  D.  C..  0|)ened 
with  a consecration  service;  2.000  |)resent. 
followed  by  parlor  meetings,  children's  meet- 
ings. a meeting  of  400  nurses  from  the  hos- 
pitals, a meeting  of  the  Congressional 
AA’oman’s  Club  and  a reception  at  the  AA’hite 
House,  the  I’resident  with  Airs.  Taft,  re- 
ceiving. The  expectation  is  one  million  dol- 
lars before  this  glorious  campai,gn  ends,  al- 
though the  money  is  second  to  the  si)iritual 
influence  in  the  purpose  of  the  jubilee. 


COJIIXG  EVENTS 

The  dates  of  meetings  to  come  are  as  fol- 
lows : Harrisburg.  February  9,  10 : 1‘hila- 
clelphia,  February  13.  11 ; Pittsburg.  February 
10.  17 : Buffalo,  February  23.  24 ; Syracuse, 
February  27.  2S : Albany  and  Troy.  March  1, 
2 : Springfield.  March  3.  4 ; New  Haven. 
March  6,  7 ; Providence,  March  S,  9 : Boston. 
March  14,  15 ; Portland,  !Me.,  March  16,  17 : 
New  York,  iMarch  27-30. 

PEEP.VBATION  FOE  NEW  YOEK 

Mrs.  Peabody  met  on  Fridaj%  November  11, 
a few  representatives  of  various  churches  at 
the  Murray  Hill  Hotel  and  gave  the  outline  of 
what  was  needed  to  prepare  for  the  grand 
cu'mination  of  the  national  campaign  in  the 
metropolitan  center.  December  2 a committee 
of  women  from  all  the  denominations  met  at 
the  Bible  House  to  form  a general  committee 
of  arrangement.  Mrs.  Broadwell,  president  of 
the  Woman's  Union  Missionarj’  Society,  was 
elected  chairman  ; Mrs.  De  Witt  Knox,  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  secretary.  A long  list  of 
committees  was  arranged,  the  presidents  of  the 
various  boards  and  chairmen  of  committees 
forming  an  executive  committee  for  general  ad- 
ministration. Each  denomination  was  in- 
structed to  form  its  own  “Group.’’  At  subse- 
quent meetings  of  the  groups  subcommittees 
were  formed  and  measures  at  once  taken  to 
put  the  .Jubilee,  with  all  its  good,  bard  work, 
its  buoyant  prospects,  its  grand  and  satisfying 
rewards,  before  the  • women  of  New  York 
and  vicinity.  Information,  literature,  prayer 
cards,  tickets  to  be  had  at  denominational 
headquarters. 

Herewith,  then,  comes  the  call.  Awake, 
daughter  of  Zion,  shake  thyself  from  the  dust 
of  too  many  social  engagements,  too  many  un- 
necessary self-imposed  duties,  and  secure  your 
part  in  the  coming  festival. 

“For  I looked,  and  behold,  a white  cloud  and 
upon  the  cloud  one  sat  like  unto  the  Son  of 
man,  having  on  his  head  a golden  crown  and  in 


his  haucl  a sharp  sickle.  And  another  angel 
came  out  of  the  temple,  crying  with  a loud 
voice  to  him  that  sat  on  the  cloud.  Thrust  in 
thy  sickle  and  reap,  for  the  time  is  come  for 
thee  to  i‘oap,  for  the  harvest  of  the  earth  is 
ripe.  And  he  that  sat  on  the  cloud  thrust  in 
his  sickle  on  the  earth  and  the  earth  was 
reaped.” 

O,  happy  they  who  in  the  harvest  time  be- 
hold the  ripened  grain  their  hands  have  sown  ! 

PROGRAM  OUTLINE 

March  27,  a.  m.  Quiet  day.  Central  com- 
mittee, New  York  Executive,  speakers.  Chair- 
men of  jubilee  meetings,  to  spend  the  day  at 
Murray  Hill  Hotel  in  prayer  and  consulta- 
tion. p.  M.  Pageant  and  young  people's 
meeting.  Metropolitan  Opera  House. 

March  2S,  a.  m.  I‘raise  and  prayer,  with 
definite  objects.  Calvary  Baptist  Church. 
Fifty-seventh  Street,  New  York.  p.  M.  To 
meet  the  pioneers.  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian 
Church,  Fifty-fifth  Street.  Evening.  \Yilh  the 
authors  of  the  study  books.  Fifth  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church.  Fifty-fifth  Street. 

March  2f>,  a.  m.  Conference  of  workers. 
Calvary  Baptist  Church.  Drawing-room  meet- 
ings. 

1 p.  M.  Luncheon  and  addresses,  at  Hotel 
Astoi-. 

Evening.  Missionary  prayer  meetings  in  all 
churches. 

March  30,  a.  m.  Denominational  Rallies. 
Places  to  be  announced,  p.  m.  Reports  from 
all  meetings  and  outline  of  future  advance. 

Evening.  .Jubilee  climax,  Carnegie  Hall. 

Tickets  for  “A  Pageant  of  Missions,"  to  be  held  at  the  Metro- 
politan Opera  House,  on  Monday  afternoon.  March  27th  (Boxea 
$18.00  and  $15.00,  Orchestra  Reserved  Seats  $1.00,  Dress 
Circle  and  Balcony  Reserved  50  cents.  Upper  Galleries  25  cents), 
and  for  the  Missionary  Luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  on  March 
29th  ($1 .75),*may  be  obtained,  when  application  is  accompanied 
by  check,  from  Mrs.  C.  F.  Hoffman,  620  Fifth  Avenue,  or  through 
your  own  Vice-Chairman. 

The  tickets  for  the  Mass  Meeting  to  be  held  in  Carnegie  Hall, 
on  Thursday  evening,  March  30th,  which  are  free  (excepting  the 
boxes,  $1 2.00  and  $1  5.00),  are  to  be  obtained  from  headquarters 
of  Publicity  Committee,  Room  818,  156'Fifth  Avenue. 


